Community Development Manager

Glendale (UK) Limited; Merton; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Nest pension scheme

Health cash plan

Employee discount portal

Sick pay

Career progression

Job summary

Glendale (UK) Limited invites applications for a Community Development Manager to lead social value delivery across Merton’s parks. You will secure and scale self-funding opportunities through events, engaging volunteers and diverse local groups to reinvest in community greenspaces.

The role requires proven community relations, strong communication, and a practical, steady approach to partnership development.

Qualifications

• Proven track record managing relationships with community groups or public sector authorities.
• Approachable and comfortable engaging with diverse volunteers to improve local parks.
• A straightforward communicator who builds trust quickly and remains resilient under operational pressure.
• Transparent and intellectually honest when initiatives fail or require adjustment.
• Focused on making small and consistent daily improvements to community green space partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery and reporting of social value framework across Merton’s parks.
• Map and engage local stakeholders including Friends of Parks groups to support volunteers.
• Partner with local education providers to facilitate recruitment and summer work placements.
• Coordinate rehabilitative work programmes with the Ministry of Justice to improve community spaces.
• Promote sustainable practices across park projects.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Volunteer engagement

Communication

Resilience under pressure

Community partnerships

Job description

Community Development Manager: London Borough of Merton

Full Time / Competitive Salary & Benefits

Are you experienced in supporting community volunteers? Are you capable of scaling commercial event bookings to fund local projects? Are you driven to make a tangible difference to local parks and open spaces?

If you identify with the above this role was made for you!

At Glendale we have a great new opportunity for a Community Development Manager to lead our Social Value delivery across Merton's green spaces.

Who are we?

Glendale is a family owned company and a market leading environmental services provider. At the forefront of green service provision in the UK Glendale has revenues of over £65m and is proud to say we have been awarded the 2025 Pro Landscape Business Awards Supreme Winner and the BALI Employer Excellence Award Winner for 2025.

The Opportunity

You will secure a self funding pipeline and scale commercial event bookings across Merton's parks. We will reinvest surplus income directly back into the community.

• Lead the delivery and reporting of our Social Value framework to ensure we make a genuine difference to local parks.

• Map and engage local stakeholders including Friends of Parks groups to support volunteer efforts in our green spaces.

• Partner with local education providers to facilitate recruitment and summer work placements within our grounds maintenance teams.

• Coordinate rehabilitative work programmes with the Ministry of Justice to improve community open spaces.

• Promote sustainable practices and environmental enhancement initiatives across all park projects.

The Person

You will take ownership of community projects and drive results.

• Proven track record managing relationships with community groups or public sector authorities.

• Approachable and comfortable engaging with diverse volunteers to improve local parks.

• A straightforward communicator who builds trust quickly and remains resilient under operational pressure.

• Transparent and intellectually honest when initiatives fail or require adjustment.

• Focused on making small and consistent daily improvements to community green space partnerships.

• Desirable skills include knowledge of grounds maintenance or Biodiversity Net Gain.

• Full clean driving licence.

What can Glendale offer you?

We offer a competitive salary, 22 days annual holiday plus statutory holidays and a Nest pension scheme. Additional benefits include an employee health cash plan, an employee discount portal, company sick pay and genuine career progression.

We are proud to be Equal Opportunity employers and are committed to inclusion and diversity.